T-X Starts EMD Flight Trial
3 July, 2019

Boeing has begun Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) flight trials of the T-X trainer aircraft it has developed with partner Saab for the US Air Force. The first EMD sortie, which was announced by the company on 1 July, involved Boeing T-X aircraft N381TX flying out of the company's St Louis facility in Missouri.

With two EMD aircraft so far built, 71 test flights were flown between December 2016 and December 2018. Since then, Boeing and Saab have been analysing the data ahead of the commencement of EMD flight trials. The BTX features a single General Electric Aviation GE 404 engine, a large-area display cockpit, and open-architecture system. The USAF is due to receive 350 aircraft to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon that has been in service since the 1960s.

With the first aircraft set to be delivered to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 2023, initial operational capability is scheduled for 2024.